Kobe Bryant took a seat at the end of the Lakers’ bench for the third consecutive game and was unable to play in Wednesday’s 98-84 victory over the San Antonio Spurs because of a painful left shin injury.

It remains to be seen if he will be out for a fourth game when the Lakers return to Staples Center to face the Denver Nuggets on Friday, or whether he will be better off sitting out another game in the hope that his shin will heal fully.

Bryant has been patient with this injury, suffered when he was kicked during the Lakers’ victory March 31 over the New Orleans Hornets. He hasn’t badgered Lakers coach Mike Brown to let him back into the starting lineup.

“No, no, he’s been good,” Brown said. “He’s been just great. I think he understands if he goes out too early it can cancel out everything we did up to this point. He’s being more cautious than anything else.”

Something unexpected

The Lakers wanted more speed, more athleticism and someone younger to be their starting point guard, which is why they traded the 37-year-old Derek Fisher and acquired the 25-year-old Ramon Sessions last month.

Sessions has been everything they hoped for, and then some.

“He’s given this team a big lift,” Brown said. “He has exceeded my expectations. He has a quiet confidence about him. You feel some leadership capabilities within him, and that’s something that can help out this organization for a long, long time.”

Sessions went into Wednesday’s game averaging 13.7 points on 51.5 percent shooting in 15 games with the Lakers since he was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also was averaging a team-leading 7.3 assists.

Unexpected, part II

Backup guard Steve Blake’s successful trips to the basket have been few and far between, which is why he said, “I needed that,” after sinking a key floater off the glass in the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ victory over the Hornets on Monday.

“If he can get in that lane and finish up once in a while it can help us out,” Brown said. “Any points we can get from the bench can be helpful, too. I just want him to play free. I don’t want to put any pressure on him to do this or do that.”

Blake went into Wednesday’s game averaging five points and 3.2 assists.

Summer in Vegas?

Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris didn’t get a chance to participate in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas last year because it was canceled in the wake of the lockout, but the rookie guards could be headed there when it resumes July 13-22.

“We haven’t really thought of summer league yet,” Brown said. “Naturally, Goudelock and Morris (would be candidates). I don’t know about anybody else. Obviously, for the two rookies, it would be great for them.”

Playoff tickets on sale

First-round playoff tickets will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. at TicketMaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by telephone at 800-4-NBA-TIX. There is a limit for four tickets per person per game. They will not be available at Staples Center.

Elliott Teaford covers the Anaheim Ducks for the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He covered the Ducks for 12 years, including the Stanley Cup season, for the Los Angeles Times and the Daily Breeze before returning to the beat in 2018 for SCNG. He also covered the Lakers for five seasons, including their back-to-back NBA championships in 2009 and '10. He once made a jump shot over future Utah Jazz center Mark Eaton during a pickup game in 1980 at Cypress College.